2017 May 9^th

Sally Yates has testified before the senate intelligence committee. She was supposed to be answering questions about General Flynn’s difficulties but quite predictably, Senator Cruz tried to make it about her own refusal to carry out what she considered to be an illegal presidential order to refuse entry into this country to people of a certain religion. Senator Cruz was made to look foolish; Sally Yates may now have taken the first step to the governorship of Georgia. Good for Georgia.

The world is waiting for Trump’s flack, Sean Spicer, to get himself to the podium for a press conference. At this moment, he is 30 minutes late. You can’t blame him because there is nothing he can say that will excuse that 18 day gap between Yates’ conference with the White House Counsel Donald McGahn and the firing of General Flynn as head honcho of national security.

Yates had information about Flynn that she believed compromised his ability to serve the administration and that she had to inform the White House about immediately. She arranged a meeting with  White House Counsel McGahn to tell him what she knew. This was on January 26.  She was back there again the next day to answer more questions. She pointed out that Flynn had lied to Vice President Pence about his Russian contacts. She was met with hostility to the point of McGahn asking her why it was of concern if one White House official lied to another.

A critical point here was the deportation of a large group of Russian agents from a house on the east coast in response to Russian meddling in our election. This punitive action by President Obama did not produce the expected response; no Americans were expelled from Russia and that was most unusual. It was obvious that the Russians were sandbagging. They expected that by laying off they could get the sanctions against them eased. Flynn, through their ambassador in Washington, was the conduit.

After Yates informed the White House about Flynn’s lies to Vice President Pence, it still took 18 days before Trump dismissed Flynn. When he did dismiss Flynn, his remarks on that occasion were clear evidence that he did it with great regret. Moreover, even after waiting eighteen days Trump did not dismiss Flynn until his lying to Vice President Pence made it into the newspapers. At that point he had no choice. How can he retain a National Security Advisor who is known by the public to have deliberately lied to his vice president? Even now Trump has not said a word condemning Flynn.

The Republicans on the senate panel don’t seem to be concerned about Flynn, or anyone else having truck with the Russians, no sir, these Republicans are just distraught that information about their leader’s fun and games with the Russians are being leaked to the media. It’s the leaks that are a grave danger to the country, right Lindsey?

Flynn has been outed: His company represents Turkey and he is on record trying to get a Turkish democratic patriot residing is Pennsylvania extradited. His firm was paid 530 thousand dollars for its efforts. This payment is illegal for a retired general officer who is eligible for recall to active duty at any time. He is also prohibited from receiving money for R/T( Russian state controlled TV) speaking engagements. It is interesting that he has offered to testify to a senate committee in exchange for immunity from prosecution. He will probably have to testify if required even if he gets no immunity. Word is that Flynn might get the first presidential pardon. Wouldn’t that be cute? Don’t bet against it.